Hurricane season begins Monday, and it’s time to stock up! At least if you do it this weekend you can save a little bit. The state’s annual sales tax holiday for purchases of hurricane preparedness supplies is set for Saturday and Sunday. It’s a 4 % state sales tax for purchases made from 12:01 a.m. Saturday through 11:59 p.m. Local and municipal sales taxes must still be paid.

During the two-day holiday, tax-free purchases are allowed for the first $1,500 of the sales price of each of the following items:

They tried to make light of the situation when they lost about 20 of their wedding guests in Mexico to a swine flu scare. Courtney and Brandon Jiura got married in Cabo a few weeks ago amid a media-frenzied fear of the deadly swine flu circulating. Courtney grew up with my husband in Denver, so when I saw these pictures, I had to ask if she minded me sharing them! One of her bridesmaids made these masks for the trip.

Brave Wedding Guests in Cabo San Lucas

Fortunately none of the wedding guests got sick, nor did they wear these masks for anything other than pictures. Those who went all say they had a blast, but the other wedding guests who cancelled their flights are among many Americans still taking the scare quite seriously. Companies are still cancelling any and all flights for employee trips and are giving a paid week off to any employee who has been specifically to Mexico. And the number of U.S. cases is growing.

The World Health Organization says swine flu has sickened more than 10,000 people in 41 countries and killed at least 80.

Postage prices go up today … the damage is 2 cents this time. First Class Mail has jumped from 42 cents to 44 cents. The designers at SpudArt.org have translated the increase over the years below… (yes, just for my blog, just kidding) 🙂

My friend Randi Rousseau is particularily upset about the recently discovered side effects of Hydroxycut. She took the dietary supplement every morning (one reason she is always so peppy, but now she’s thinking of coffee instead). The FDA has recalled 14 Hydroxycut products citing serious liver injuries and even death in at least one person.

As many of you, I made the mistake of thinking when the prime interest rate went down- so would my credit card interest rate… ha! Wrong. But about a year ago, when I was still in California and still paying off a credit card, my (now) husband suggested I call my credit card company and ask for a lower interest rate. I thought he was kidding, but he had just done the same. Ask and it shall be granted? Too easy. Sure enough though, I got my interest rate cut almost in half… just by calling and asking! Good things come to those who know about them. .. and don’t take no for an answer.